Quote Unquote
“The old woman sifting through the rubble reminded me of my grandmother.” Justice Minister Yosef Lapid, decrying home demolitions in Rafah, at the weekly cabinet meeting. “For three and a half years we’ve destroyed houses. Why’s everyone suddenly waking up now?” IDF Chief of Staff Moshe Ya’alon. “The greatest test of Israel’s justices is to make sure that Israel’s war on terror and the methods used are within the framework of the law and not outside of it.” Supreme Court Chief Justice Aharon Barak (left), speaking at the May 24 swearing-in ceremony of newly appointed justices. “If coexistence does exist in the state, it can be found in Bnei Sahknin.” Mazen Ghnaim, chairman of the soccer club of the Arab town of Sakhnin, after it beat Hapoel Haifa to become the first team from an Arab town to win Israel’s State Cup. “It is clear that today’s action was completely disproportionate to any threat faced by the Israeli military and that Israeli forces showed a reckless disregard for human life…The targeting of innocent children in a conflict of this kind must always be condemned…The killing of children does not serve any legitimate cause and degrades any purpose which it purports to advance.” Irish Foreign Minister Brian Cowen, who holds the EU presidency (right), condemning Israel’s actions in Rafah, after hearing reports that many children were injured. “Israel rejects with repugnance the Presidency Statement… Israel rejects any hint of accusation that IDF soldiers intentionally fired at children… We would expect the Presidency… to be wary of depending on biased and fallacious information.” The Foreign Ministry’s response, conveyed to the Irish ambassador. “How can this summit convene while there are two Arab presidents in jail? I am disgusted.'” Libyan leader Muamar Qadhafi, referring to Saddam Hussein and Yasser Arafat, as he walked out of the opening session of the annual Arab summit being held this year in Tunis. Qadhafi also criticized the conference for rejecting his idea of a single Israel-Palestinian state called Israstin. “Do you think that an attack on the prime minister is in my genes?” Sagiv Amir, younger brother of Rabin assassin Yigal Amir (right), after being questioned by police about allegations that he had voiced threats against Prime Minister Ariel Sharon. “Find what strength you have to terrorize your enemy and the enemy of God… And if they want peace, then let’s have peace.” Palestinian Authority Chairman Yasser Arafat, in a live broadcast on Palestinian television on May 15, marking Nakba, the “catastrophe” of Israel’s establishment.
Copyright c 2004. The Jerusalem Report
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